Punching bag assembly

ABSTRACT

A punching bag assembly includes an inflatable bladder unit, a skin layer covering the bladder unit, and a connecting unit. The connecting unit includes an anchoring block, at least a portion of which is buried between the bladder unit and the skin layer, and a fastening member having a head portion embedded in the anchoring block. The fastening member further has a threaded shank portion with a first end section connected to the head portion and a second end section projecting from the anchoring block so as to be disposed outwardly relative to the skin layer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/862,550, filed on May 22, 2001, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to a punching bag assembly, more particularly to a punching bag assembly, which can be fixed in a variety of places, and which can be produced at a relatively low cost.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Punching balls or punching bags are commonly used for practicing kicks and punches. It is desirable to form the punching bag/balls with a multi-layer structure so that the punching bag/balls can be imparted with good rebounding characteristics and good wear-resistance, and can be produced at a relatively low cost.

[0006] In co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/862, 550, the applicant disclosed a punching bag assembly that includes an inflatable bladder, a winding layer wound around the bladder, an intermediate resilient layer covering the winding layer, a mounting block, and a skin layer. The mounting block has an anchoring flange attached to the intermediate resilient layer, and a mounting projection projecting from the anchoring flange and formed with a mounting hole. The skin layer is formed over the intermediate resilient layer and the anchoring flange such that the anchoring flange is buried between the intermediate resilient layer and the skin layer and such that the mounting projection projects relative to the skin layer to permit access to the mounting hole.

[0007] However, due to its mounting design, the aforesaid punching bag assembly can only be mounted in a suspended state, thereby limiting its use in a place where no suspending device is available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a punching bag assembly that is free of the aforesaid drawback that is associated with the above design.

[0009] According to one aspect of this invention, a punching bag assembly includes an inflatable bladder unit, a skin layer and a connecting unit. The skin layer covers the bladder unit. The connecting unit includes an anchoring block and a fastening member. At least a portion of the anchoring block is buried between the bladder unit and the skin layer. The fastening member has a head portion embedded in the anchoring block. The fastening member further has a threaded shank portion with a first end section connected to the head portion and a second end section projecting from the anchoring block so as to be disposed outwardly relative to the skin layer.

[0010] According to another aspect of this invention, a punching bag assembly includes a bag body, a cord tube and a pair of anchoring members. The bag body includes an inflatable bladder unit and a skin layer covering the bladder unit. The bag body is formed with an axially opposite pair of cord holes. The cord tube is disposed in the bag body. A pair of anchoring members are secured on the cord tube and anchor opposite ends of the cord tube at axially opposite positions on the bladder unit such that the cord tube is aligned with the cord holes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the punching bag assembly according to the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the first preferred embodiment;

[0014]FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a second preferred embodiment of the punching bag assembly according to the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of the punching bag assembly according to the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 5 illustrates a fourth preferred embodiment of the punching bag assembly according to the present invention when connected to a pair of hook members;

[0017]FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the fourth preferred embodiment; and

[0018]FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of a vibration-activated sound generating unit mounted in the preferred embodiments of the present invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that same reference numerals have been used to denote like elements throughout the specification.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first preferred embodiment of the punching bag assembly 1 of the present invention is shown to include an inflatable bladder unit 10, a rubber or plastic skin layer 14 covering the bladder unit 10, and a connecting unit 20.

[0021] The bladder unit 10 of the punching bag assembly 1 includes a resilient bladder layer 13 and a winding layer 12 covering the bladder layer 13. The resilient bladder layer 13 is formed from rubber material, and the winding layer 12 is formed from filament threads that are wound around the bladder layer 13 by means of a known winding machine.

[0022] The connecting unit 20 includes a rubber anchoring block 21 and a fastening member 22. At least a portion of the anchoring block 21 is buried between the bladder unit 10 and the skin layer 14, preferably between the bladder layer 13 and the winding layer 12. The fastening member 22 has a head portion 24 embedded in the anchoring block 21. In this embodiment, the head portion 24 includes a base plate 23 and an internally threaded nut 25 fixed to the base plate 23. The fastening member 22 has a threaded shank portion 26 with a first end section 261 threadedly engaging the nut 25 and a second end section 262 projecting from the anchoring block 21 so as to be disposed outwardly relative to the skin layer 14. The threaded shank portion 26 further has a polygonal intermediate section 27 between the first and second end sections 261, 262 and disposed outwardly relative to the skin layer 14.

[0023] The punching bag assembly 1 further includes a valve member 15 extending through the skin layer 14 and the bladder unit 10 to permit inflation of the bladder unit 10, as best shown in FIG. 1.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 7, the punching bag assembly 1 further includes a vibration-activated sound generating unit 80 buried between the bladder unit 10 and the skin layer 14 and operable so as to generate a sound output when the punching bag assembly 1 is punched. The sound generating unit 80 includes a mounting block 81 buried between the bladder 10 and the skin layer 14, a circuit board 82 mounted on the mounting block 81, a battery seat 83 connected to the circuit board 81, a buzzer 84 connected to the circuit board 82, and a sound control circuit 85 mounted on the circuit board 82. The animated punching sounds that are generated enhance fun and can improve training efficiency by the user.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 3, in a second preferred embodiment, the head portion 24 is connected integrally to the first end section 261 of the threaded shank portion 26.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 4, in a third preferred embodiment, the anchoring block 21 has a projecting portion 27 extending outwardly of the skin layer 14. The head portion 24 of the fastening member 22 is embedded in the projecting portion 27 of the anchoring block 21. In use, the connecting unit 20 can be attached to an anchoring unit (not shown) fixed on the ground, such that the punching bag assembly 1′ can be disposed in an upright position relative to the ground for practicing punches or kicks.

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the fourth preferred embodiment of the punching bag assembly 5 of the present invention is shown to include a bag body 4, a cord tube 6 disposed in the bag body 4 and a pair of anchoring members 7. The bag body 4 includes an inflatable bladder unit 40 and a skin layer 44 covering the bladder unit 40. The bag body 4 is formed with an axially opposite pair of cord holes 58. The anchoring members 7 are secured on the cord tube 6 and anchor opposite ends 601, 602 of the cord tube 6 at axially opposite positions on the bladder unit 40 such that the cord tube 6 is aligned with the cord holes 58. In this embodiment, the punching bag assembly 5 further includes a pair of end caps 61. Each of the end caps 61 has a tube segment 63 fitted into a respective end 601, 602 of the cord tube 6. Each of the end caps 61 further has a flange segment 62 that extends radially from the tube segment 63 and that is seated on an end face of the respective one of the ends 601, 602 of the cord tube 6. In this embodiment, each of the anchoring members 7 includes a sleeve portion 71 sleeved sealingly on a respective one of the ends 601, 602 of the cord tube 6, and a flange portion 72 extending radially from the sleeve portion 71 and buried between a resilient bladder layer 41 and a winding layer 43 of the bladder unit 40. In use, a cord 65 is extended through the punching bag assembly 5 and has opposite ends secured to hook members 67 on a frame 9 to permit practicing of punches by a boxer.

[0028] In the preferred embodiments, the resilient bladder layer, the skin layer and the connecting unit are formed from low cost materials to reduce the manufacturing cost. Due to the design of the connecting unit 20, the preferred embodiments of the present invention can be anchored on the ceiling, floor or table to enhance flexibility during use.

[0029] While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements. 

I claim:
 1. A punching bag-assembly comprising: an inflatable bladder unit; a skin layer covering said bladder unit; and a connecting unit including an anchoring block, at least a portion of which is buried between said bladder unit and said skin layer, and a fastening member having a head portion embedded in said anchoring block, said fastening member further having a threaded shank portion with a first end section connected to said head portion and a second end section projecting from said anchoring block so as to be disposed outwardly relative to said skin layer.
 2. A punching bag assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said head portion includes a base plate and an internally threaded nut fixed to said base plate for threadedly engaging said first end section of said threaded shank portion.
 3. A punching bag assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said threaded shank portion further has a polygonal intermediate section between said first and second end sections and disposed outwardly relative to said skin layer.
 4. A punching bag assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said head portion is connected integrally to said first end section of said threaded shank portion.
 5. A punching bag assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said anchoring block has a projecting portion extending outwardly of said skin layer, said head portion of said fastening member being embedded in said projecting portion of said anchoring block.
 6. A punching bag assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bladder unit includes a resilient bladder layer and a winding layer covering said bladder layer.
 7. A punching bag assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a valve member extending through said skin layer and said bladder unit to permit inflation of said bladder unit.
 8. A punching bag assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a vibration-activated sound generating unit buried between said bladder unit and said skin layer and operable so as to generate a sound output when said punching bag assembly is punched.
 9. A punching bag assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein said sound generating unit includes a mounting block buried between said bladder unit and said skin layer, a circuit board mounted on said mounting block, a battery seat connected to said circuit board, a buzzer connected to said circuit board, and a sound control circuit mounted on said circuit board.
 10. A punching bag assembly comprising: a bag body including an inflatable bladder unit and a skin layer covering said bladder unit, said bag body being formed with an axially opposite pair of cord holes; a cord tube disposed in said bag body; and a pair of anchoring members secured on said cord tube and anchoring opposite ends of said cord tube at axially opposite positions on said bladder unit such that said cord tube is aligned with said cord holes.
 11. A punching bag assembly as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a pair of end caps, each of which has a tube segment fitted into a respective one of the ends of said cord tube, and a flange segment extending radially from said tube segment and seated on an end face of the respective one of the ends of said cord tube.
 12. A punching bag assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein said bladder unit includes a resilient bladder layer and a winding layer covering said bladder layer.
 13. A punching bag assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein each of said anchoring members includes a sleeve portion sleeved sealingly on a respective one of the ends of said cord tube, and a flange portion extending radially from said sleeve portion and buried between said resilient bladder layer and said winding layer.
 14. A punching bag assembly as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a valve member extending through said skin layer and said bladder unit to permit inflation of said bladder unit.
 15. A punching bag assembly as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a vibration-activated sound generating unit buried between said bladder unit and said skin layer and operable so as to generate a sound output when said punching bag assembly is punched.
 16. A punching bag assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein said sound generating unit includes a mounting block buried between said bladder unit and said skin layer, a circuit board mounted on said mounting block, a battery seat connected to said circuit board, a buzzer connected to said circuit board, and a sound control circuit mounted on said circuit board. 